The ancient feuds were professedly forgotten, but it was not so in practice, and many a nominal believer was still influenced by the memory of former strife.
100 It had, in fact, become the chief power now in Madina, ruling over the Muslims in all matters, and powerfully influencing those who as yet held aloof from it.īut all its professors were not equally hearty and sincere. Public prayers were performed, fasts and poor-rates were established, penal laws were executed, things lawful and unlawful were determined, and Islam gained strength amongst the tribe of the Ansar. The state of affairs in Madina now is thus described by the historian Ibn Ishaq, 'When Muhammad had found a safe abode in Mecca, when his friends, the Immigrants, had united round him, and when the concerns of the Ansar had been arranged, Islam became firmly established. It could not have been delivered after the battle of Badr when its spirit was so completely set aside. Whether it refers to the attitude then to be adopted towards the pagans or the Jews of Madina, it is clear that it must have been said during this earlier part of his residence in that city. It was at this time when Muhammad was feeling his way in Madina that the famous verse, 'Let there be no compulsion in religion,' 99 was revealed. He said, 'You are my maternal uncles, I belong to you, I will be your chief.' 98 97 When the chief of the Bani Najjar died, the Jews came to Muhammad and asked him to appoint a successor. Margoliouth gives several instances from Muslim authorities which show this.
At this period, however, he did all he could to conciliate them. He thus, at this early stage, became the dictator in all matters, religious, civil and military, and made use of the Jews as auxiliaries in war. The Jews were allowed to retain their own religion, but were not permitted to go to war without the express sanction of Muhammad. 96 The general purport of it was that they were to help one another, to avenge even on a believer the slaughter of a believer, to pay their own expenses in war, to hold Madina sacred and inviolable, to receive privileges for those under their protection, and in all matters of dispute to submit to the decision of the Prophet. The next step was to form a constitution, and a treaty offensive and defensive between all the Muslims (into which Jews for war purposes were admitted). This custom lasted about a year and a half, after which it was not needed and the usual law of inheritance was carried out. A feast of fraternity was made between the Muhajirun and the Ansar, and about fifty men from each party entered into a bond of brotherhood so close that in the event of one dying his adopted brother became his heir. The climate of Madina did not suit the Immigrants who longed for their native air, and so it was necessary to induce them to settle down by bringing them into greater unity with the Ansar. To those who after their trials fled their country, then fought and endured with patience, verily thy Lord will in the end be forgiving, gracious. The Muhajirun are said to be referred to in Sura An-Nahl (xvi) 95, 43, 111:-Īs to those who when oppressed have fled their country for the sake of God, we will surely provide them a goodly abode in this world, but greater the reward of the next life, did they but know it. The Muslim community was made up of two parts, one consisted of the Immigrants from Mecca, called the Muhajirun the other of the first Madina converts, who were called the Ansar or Helpers. 94He also soon erected a mosque in this same place, which thus became the centre of Islam and from which proceeded in due course many political and military orders. Owing to their clannish spirit and the tribal feuds existing among them, Muhammad wisely held himself aloof from all their parties and selected, under divine guidance it is said, an isolated neutral spot for his future abode. The people were willing to receive him though they were not at one as regards his claim to be a prophet. 622, probably in the month of June, Muhammad made his public entry into Madina, 93 accompanied by about one hundred and fifty persons.
Camel in desert at Hudaibiyah, Saudi Arabia
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